After a fire tore through part of an East Hastings Street on April 23, 2025—displacing a local boot company and several independent artists—the East Vancouver community is rallying with a fundraising event to support those affected.
"The fire started in the restaurant next door," Hall Risk, owner of Wohlford & Company, tells V.I.A. "It climbed up inside the wall of our building and then spread to the roof."
Boot business part of East Vancouver since 1946
Wohlford is the longtime tenant at 2250 E Hastings St, which is also known as the Dayton Boot Factory (it rebranded in 2023 and now carries the name of its founder, Charlie Wohlford). The building was purpose-built for the bootmaker in 1950.
"We've been making boots there for 75 years of our 79-year history," says Risk of the building.
The company has operations outside of Vancouver now, but still did work at the site, including custom boots, boots to order, and repairs. However, the factory has had fewer workers than when it was built, and space opened up over the years.
So the company looked to local independent brands, artists, and musicians. Several artists and makers set up their studios in the basement while upstairs, where Wohlford had some production space, there were eight more studios.
"Along with our original use for the building, we had transformed it into a community for local independent artists and musicians and performers," says Risk.
Part of the goal was to "foster that community in East Vancouver," Risk adds.
Among those who set up in the old boot factory were the Snotty Nose Rez Kids (SNRK), a pair of Haisla rappers who've won Junos, been shortlisted for the Polaris Prize (multiple times), and collected critical acclaim. Originally from Kitimat, the duo works out of Vancouver now.
Next door, adds Risk, was another building that was home to almost three dozen artist studios.
After the fire
"Most of the damage, all of the fire damage, is just that section of wall that burned up to the ceiling, and then 80 percent of our roof burned and fell into the second floor," Risk says.
That left the top floor destroyed, but the street level and basement were relatively untouched by the flames. However, there was significant water damage, especially in the basement, where it was seven feet deep.
While the top floor is done for, Risk is hopeful it can essentially be scraped off and a temporary roof installed, to allow the other two floors to operate.
The building itself is sturdy, he notes; the factory was built to high standards with a post-and-beam structure featuring 16-by-16-inch pieces of fir.
The hope is to be allowed to put the temporary roof up soon and occupy the building again in six months. What comes next is uncertain, but may involve the neighbouring property owners and a new development permit.
A celebration of the community
Wohlford is doing okay, Risk says, as they had insurance in place and have moved some operations to a temporary space in Strathcona, but the artists and others who shared the building aren't doing as well.
"My employees are all taken care of for the foreseeable future, but the artists...they have to pick up their lives and figure it all out," he says.
Risk says they want to be supportive of those displaced tenants and help them rebuild, adding the goal for rebuilding is more than about the building, but "rebuilding people's lives."
To that end, an event has been planned for June 19 at the Rio; Rio owner Corinne Lea had a studio in the neighbouring building and approached Risk about organizing something.
Saving Soles Soirée is night of music and a fundraiser for the community that worked out of the old factory, Risk says, and a chance to celebrate that community.
"It's an expression of our community that's there and we want to have a fun night and maybe celebrate a comeback," says Risk.
The funds raised from the event will go to the artists and makers who've been displaced.
Headlining the show is the Snotty Nose Rez Kids with several opening acts including Elliot C Way, Lonesome Town Painters, Vancid, and Bob Sumner. Local comedian and author Charlie Demers will host.
Saving Soles Soiree: The Dayton Boot Factory Fundraiser
When: June 19, 2025. Doors at 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
Where: The Rio Theatre - 1660 E Broadway
Cost: $51
